Supply list

The best solution is to build a raised bed planter. This will allow you to add a great soil and compost mix and take control of your planting beds.You may think building a planter is difficult, but it only takes a few hours and requires only a few tools. For this project, I am making an 8’ x 4’ raised planter 20” high. This is big enough to load with your favorite flowers and veggies, but not so wide that you can’t reach the weeds and veggies in the middle.

1. Start with four 8’ pieces of fir and cut two pieces in half for the 4’ sides. Tip: I recommend never using pressure treated lumber because it is full of chemicals. Screw all four pieces together in a rectangle, and repeat with four more pieces of wood so that you have two boxes of the same size. Stack the boxes and screw them together with a scrap piece of wood. Find a sunny spot in the yard and place your new raised planter.

2. Now comes the addition of your soil full of compost. Using the Fiskars Long-Handle Steel Digging Shovel, fill the raised planter full of soil. This shovel is great because the long handle allows you to reach all the way across the planter while saving your back and knees from having to bend over. The steel frame is much more durable than wood and won’t break like fiberglass. This is the best shovel I have ever owned!

3. Now that your planter is full of soil, use the Fiskars Extendable Rotary Cultivator to spread the dirt around and smooth it out. The six rust-proof aluminum cultivating wheels will help power through any large chunks of compost and will loosen and aerate the soil, which is just what your plants need. It has an extendable shaft, so it is perfect for someone tall like me or shorter like my wife. There is no need to buy one for every member of the family. Simply adjust, and it is ready to use.

4. Now the soil is ready to plant. I use my
Fiskars Herb and Veggie Shears to easily snip open the plastic packaging so I do not tear apart the root structure of the veggies. The serrated edges are perfect for pruning veggies and herbs or cutting open those pesky plastic containers. These garden snips are a multi-use tool that is a must have in any garden bag.

5. Place out the plants to the recommended spacing. The
Fiskars Big Grip Transplanter has gradation marks on the blade, making it perfect for getting the exact depth that each plant needs. The Big Grip transplanter even has a comfortable handle that will reduce fatigue and allow the entire job to be completed in one afternoon.

6. Once the plants are in the ground, use the Fiskars Big Grip Cultivator to make sure the soil around your newly planted veggies is smooth and aerated.7. Now just wait and watch the plants grow in the newly made raised planter.